Mu folding three-pin plug goes on sale

The Mu plug open

The designer of a folding power plug has turned the prototype into a USB adapter, the Mu, that can be used to recharge devices such as smartphones, tablets and cameras.

The Mu, which went on pre-order on Friday, reduces the 4.5cm depth of a traditional three-pin plug to around 1cm using a pivot. The live and neutral pins rotate and the sides fold down to take up 70-percent less space, manufacturer Made In Mind said in a blog post.

Min-Kyu Choi first showed off the folding plug design in 2009, before joining
forces with Made In Mind. The PVT technology used for the pivot has been in development for three years and is
protected by six global patents, according to the company.

"I was frustrated by the dimensions of the traditional plug, and
felt that the existing unit, which dates back to 1947, was out of touch
and incongruous with modern design," Choi said in the blog post.
"My idea was very simple — redesign the plug to bring it in line with
the clean look and feel of today's technology, without compromising
functionality."

The Mu measures 14mm x
55mm x 60mm and is fully certified to comply with British Safety
Standards regulations, according to Made in Mind.

Published: February 20, 2012 -- 16:24 GMT (08:24 PST)

Photo by: Made In Mind

Caption by: Ben Woods

Mu plug closed

While the Mu can refuel any USB-chargeable device, it cannot be used to recharge laptops and similar large items. However, the company said it is working on a range of new Mu products, including a laptop charger.

Like any standard three-pin plug, it can be used abroad in conjunction with a standard travel adapter. The plug is on sale in the UK only, though there are plans to release it in "some overseas" locations in 2012 and 2013, Made in Mind said.

The Mu was put up for pre-order on Saturday priced at £25 from the company's website. It is due to start shipping on 28 February, and will be sold in the Design Museum shop in London.

Get the latest technology news and analysis, blogs and reviews
delivered directly to your inbox with ZDNet UK's
newsletters.

The Mu power plug, which swivels the live and neutral pins out of the way to save space, is now available for pre-order after a design prototype was turned into an adapter for USB-chargeable devices

Read MoreRead Less

The Mu plug open

The designer of a folding power plug has turned the prototype into a USB adapter, the Mu, that can be used to recharge devices such as smartphones, tablets and cameras.

The Mu, which went on pre-order on Friday, reduces the 4.5cm depth of a traditional three-pin plug to around 1cm using a pivot. The live and neutral pins rotate and the sides fold down to take up 70-percent less space, manufacturer Made In Mind said in a blog post.

Min-Kyu Choi first showed off the folding plug design in 2009, before joining
forces with Made In Mind. The PVT technology used for the pivot has been in development for three years and is
protected by six global patents, according to the company.

"I was frustrated by the dimensions of the traditional plug, and
felt that the existing unit, which dates back to 1947, was out of touch
and incongruous with modern design," Choi said in the blog post.
"My idea was very simple — redesign the plug to bring it in line with
the clean look and feel of today's technology, without compromising
functionality."

The Mu measures 14mm x
55mm x 60mm and is fully certified to comply with British Safety
Standards regulations, according to Made in Mind.